’It’s a really special place that deserves more acknowledgement,’ says the violist
I’m originally from Australia, and when choosing a school I went around Europe looking for teachers, as I think that’s the main point of doing a master’s elsewhere. I found the wonderful teacher Atte Kilpeläinen and really loved his playing, so I knew I wanted to study at the Sibelius Academy. It was especially helpful that there was funding for non-EU citizens, too, which is quite uncommon! The presence of a folk music department and multicultural instrument courses brings in a range of people from all over the world.
It’s extremely flexible, and you can really pick whatever you like: if you want to do solo work you can perform in all the matinees, or if you’re keen on audition training, there are many audition courses. I decided to do chamber music credits with my quartet for my elective, and then have my two lessons a week, one with Kilpeläinen and one with Yolahia Annariina Jokela, which keeps me busy enough.
I’ve learnt a soloistic style of playing with a good depth of sound, which I think is quite a signature of Finland, and the skills I need to win auditions and competitions. I came with experience of orchestras and professional life, and here I’m getting the expertise I was looking for beyond that.
I also love the facilities: at almost any time of the day or night, I can come in and there are always practice rooms, rehearsal venues and recording spaces available. We have three different facilities in the city that you can walk between, surrounded by all these old buildings and cobbled streets, but then you walk into the building and it’s modern. Because the facilities are attached to the big concert halls here, you can finish practising and within five minutes be in a concert, which we get free access to!
The weather can be gloomy, but everything else outweighs it all. It’s a really special place that deserves more acknowledgement.
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